Suction cleaner



Sept. 28, 1937.- w. H KlTTO SUCTION CLEANER Filed Feb.- 11, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet '1 ATTO RN EY W. H. KITTO SUCTION CLEANER Sept. 28, 1937.

Filed Feb. 11, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 William b. K1710 MIMI Ill

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES SUCTION CLEANER WilliamH. Kitto, Canton, Ohio, assignor te The Hoover Company, North Canton,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 11, 1935, Serial No.5,911 In Great Britain April 10, 1934 15 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general andparticularly to new and novel means for the conversion of a suctioncleaner from an on-the-fioor cleaning unit to an off-thefloor cleaningunit. More specifically the invention comprises an improved permanentlyembodied converter mechanism in a suction cleaner.

The use of dusting tools with suction cleaners to enable the suction ofthe machine to be made available at points spaced above the supportingsurface of the machine is well known in the prior art. The provision ofmeans by which the machine canreadily be converted from an on-thefloorcleaning unit to an oif-the-fioor cleaning unit with a minimum of effortexpenditure and with maximum efiiciency is extremely desirable. It is tothis end that the present invention is directed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedsuction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a newand improved suction cleaner embodying converting means capable ofaltering the machine from an on-the-floor cleaner to an off-the-floorcleaner. A still further object is the provision of an improvedconversion mechanism in a suction cleaner. A still further object is theprovision of a permanently installed converter in a suction cleanerwhich is adapted'to receive the end of a dusting tool unit and to beactuated thereby. Still another object is the provision of a converterin a suction cleaner which includes means normally forming a part of theair passageway through the cleaner in on-the-floor cleaning which meansare actuated by the attachment of a dusting tool hose to connect asecond source of air flow to the suction-creating means of the suctioncleaner. These and other more specific objects will appear upon readingthe following specification and claims, and uponconsidering inconnection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

' Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is disclosed: Figure l is a side view of a modern suctioncleaner, with certain parts broken away, illustrating a dusting toolunit connected thereto;

Figure 2 is abottom view of the cleaner shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section through the connection of the dusting tool unitand the converter valve, being taken upon the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2 illustrating thepivotal mounting of the converter valve;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a forcereceiving lug carried by thesupporting means of the cleaner nozzle;

Figure 6 is a section upon the line 6-6 of Figure 2 showing themechanism by which the nozzle is raised when the cleaner is convertedinto an off-the-fioor unit and shows the supporting wheel in itsoff-the-floor cleaning position;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross section through the cleaner upon theline 'I-i of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a section through the wheel pocket of thenozzle casingshowing the wheel positioned therein;

' Figure 9 is a partial bottom view of the cleaner with certain partsbroken away to show the converter valve positioned for on-the-floorcleaning;

Figure 10 is a section upon the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9, showing thevalve-locking mechanism;

Figure 11 is a section upon the line H-ll of Figure 9, showing a frontsupporting wheel in its position for on-the-floor cleaning;

Figure 12 is a section through the converter valve upon the line l2-'l2of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is a section upon the line l3-.I3 of Figure 9, illustratingthe sealed relationship of the valve conduit with the valve positionedfor onethe-floor cleaning. 7

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, in particular, a modern suctioncleaner provided with a dusting tool unit is illustrated. The suctioncleaner body includes a nozzle I, a fan chamber 2, and an exhaust outlet3. The interior of nozzle is connected to the fan chamber 2 by an airpassageway, indicated generally as 4, and there is positioned within thefan chamber a suctioncreating fan 5 which is rotated at high speedby amotor positioned within the casing 6. In the functioning of thecleanerasan on-the-fioor cleaning unit the suction-creating means draws airthrough the nozzle l into the fan chamber and forces it therefrom thruexhaust outlet 3 into a suitable dust bag 'I which is removably attachedthereto. The cleaner body is movably supported upon spaced pairs offront and rear wheels 8, 8 and 9, 9 respectively, the latter beingprovided with height-adjusting means V III by which they can be raisedor lowered for the purpose of raising or lowering the nozzle l'toaccommodate it to different types ofsurface coverings. As in the usualcleaner construction a pivoted handle II is provided, by which theoperator can propel the machine in its operation, suitablehandle-positioning means, indicated generally by the reference characterl2, being provided by which it can be positioned within a definiteposition within a definite range of movement.

Within the nozzle I of the machine is positioned a rotating agitator l3provided on its surface with rigid beating elements and flexible brushelements and adapted to agitate a surface covering undergoing cleaningto dislodge therefrom the .nozzle and the fan chamber.

embedded foreign matter. The agitator is rotated, in the operation ofthe machine, by a powertransmittin'g belt i4 which extends therefromthru the air passageway 4 and to the lower endof the motor shaft I5which extends downwardly at the center of the chamber eye i6 into airpassageway.

When it is desired to use a cleaner in the cleaning of drapes a dustingtool unit is connected to the suction-creating means of the cleaner.'I'his'unit comprises an elongated flexible hose l8 at the outer end ofwhich is provided a removable nozzle I9 and at the inner end of which isprovided a metallic seat member 20 which carries a spring-pressed detent2|;

The walls of air passageway-4 leading to the nozzle mouth, as defined bythe front and rear nozzle lips 22 and 23 respectively, form wheelpockets at. the rear corners of the nozzle casing within which the frontwheels 8, 8 are positioned. In the usual suction cleaner the side wallsof this air passageway 4 are rigid and merely serve. to define theconnection between the interior of the According to the presentinvention, however, one side wall 24 of the air passageway is formed asa part of a permanently incorporated converter valve pivoted upon a pin25 and is movable between two posttions, as shownin Figure 2 and inFigure 9. In the position shown in Figure 9 the pivoted wall 24 servesmerely as a side of the air passageway 4 and cooperates with theopposite rigid side wall thereof to direct cleaning air tothe eye [6 ofthe fan chamber. In the position shown in Figure 2 air passageway inabutment with a stop 26 at the opposite. side thereof. In this positionthe fiat plate surface 24a of the converter lying adjacent the undersideof the fan chamber cooperates with wall. 24 in sealing the fan chambereye from the, .nozzle thru being provided with a cutaway section 21which partially encloses the motor shaft. IS. A fixed plate member 28 atall times overlies that part of the normal circular eye it of the fanchamber forward of the converter valve in this second position, as shownin Figure 2," and cooperates with the converter valve to seal completelyLthe nozzle from the fan chamber.

The converter valve body comprises, in addition to the wall 24 and itsplate 24a a conduit passageway 30, the outer end of which is shapedsimilarly to the seat 20 on the dusting tool unit. The inner end of theconduit, indicated as 3i in Figures 3 and 12, is formed by an openingwhich faces the fan chamber 2. With the-converter positioned foron-the-fioor cleaningyas shown in Figure 9, opening 3| of conduit 30abuts the 34 cooperates in the two positions of the converter I it haspivoted forwardly until it extends across the -33 with which aspring-pressed latch or detent v to retain it against unintendeddisplacement.

of the nozzle casing and to permit of the pivoting of the converter fromthe position shown in Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 2 it is firstnecessary to depress manually the detent 34 to disengage it from theouter seat '33 and then pivot the converter to the nozzle sealingrelationship, at which time the detent will seat in the inner seat 33 tolock the converter in place. With the converter pivoted" to the positionshown in Figure .2, all cleaning air which passes through the cleaner inresponse to the suction created by the suctioncreating fan 5 will enterthrough the dusting tool unit comprising the nozzle it, the hose i8 andits connection to the converter which opens into the eye of the fanchamber.

To convert the cleaner from an on-the-fioor unit to an off-the-fioorcleaning unit the seat 24 ,of-the dusting tool hose is seated in theouter end of conduit 30, as illustrated in Figure 3, the two beingretained in locked relationship by the spring-pressed detent 2icooperating with a seat 1 32. Manually depressing the lock 34 permitsthe converter. to be pivoted from the position shown in Figure 9 to thatshown in Figure 2 by a force exerted directly on the dusting tool unit.The lock 34 looks the valve in the new position and all air entering thefan chamber enters by way of the dusting tool unit, the nozzle beingcompletely sealed'therefrom.

To return the cleaner to an on-the-fioor cleaning unit, it is onlynecessary to disengage the lock ing latch 34 from its seat 33 and topivot the converter outwardly from the position shown in Figure 2 tothat shown in Figure 9, after which the dusting wtool hose can bedisengaged from the converter and the machine.

With the cleaner connected for ofl-the-fioor cleaning the motor shaft l5rotates the agitator i3 by means of the driving belt l4 and, in order toprevent any possibilityof extended agitation ofthe surface covering inone place, means are provided to raise the front end of the cleaner.These means comprise a crank shaft 38 upon which the two frontsupporting wheels 8, 3 are mounted' A coil spring 31 urges crank shaft34 rearwardly at all times into abutment with stops 33, 28 and in theon-the-fioor cleaning relationship the crank shaft is held against thestops as indicated in Figure 11 by this spring, and the wheels are intheir uppermost position. Upon the movement of the converter valve toits'position for oiI-the-fioor cleaning, the crank shaft is pivotedforwardly, from the dotted line to the,

full line position shown in Figure 6, by means of a shoulder 39 providedat the forward end of the wall 24 which contacts the lower end of a lug40 which is fixedly carried by the crank shaft 38 between its ends. Themovement of the lug 40 pivots that member and causes the crank shaft tolower the wheels relative to the nozzle casing thereby raising thenozzle and the agitator contained therein.

I claim: 1 I

1. In a, suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a fan chamber andan air passageway therebetweemand a motor-driven fan in said chamber'; awall of said passageway being movable to a second position in which itcloses said nozzle from said chamber, and a conduit movable with 'Detent34 is positioned immediately in the rear 2. In a. suctioncleaner, a bodyincluding a nozzle, a fan chamber andan air passageway 2,094,126'therebetween, and a motor-driven fan in said chamber; a movableconverter including a wall forming a part of said passageway, saidconverter being movable to a position in which said wall extends acrosssaid passageway to close said nozzle from said chamber, said converterincluding a conduit adapted to mate with the eye of said fan chamber insaid position.

3. In a. suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a fan chamber andan air passageway therebetween, and a motor-driven fan in said chamber;a wall of said passageway being movable to a second position in which itcloses said nozzle from said chamber, and a conduit movable with saidwall into registration with the eye of said chamber, and manuallyoperable means to retain said wall and conduit in each of theirpositions.

4. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a fan chamber and anair passageway therebetween, and a motor-driven fan in said chamber; amovable'converter including a wall forming a part of said passageway,said converter 1 being movable to a position in which said wall extendsacross said passageway to a second position in which it closes saidnozzle from said chamber, said converter including a conduit adapted tomate with the eye of said fan chamber at one end and with the end of adusting tool hose at its opposite end and to be moved by a force exertedtherethrough, and means to lock said converter in its passageway-formingposition and in its passageway-closing position.

5. In asuction cleaner, the combination of a body including a nozzle, afan chamber, a motor driven fan in said fan chamber and an airpassageway between said'nozzle and an opening to said fan chamber, oneside wall of said passageway being pivoted to swing toward and from theopening to said fan chamber and adapted to form a closure therefor, anda conduit carried by said pivoted side wall and adapted to communicatewith the opening to said fan chamber upon the closure of said passagewaytherefrom.

-6. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a passageway therefrom.

' '7. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a-fan chamber, an air passagewayextended between said nozzle and said chamber, a driven. fan in saidchamber, a converter valve pivoted about an axis substantially parallelto the axis of rotation of said fan andincluding a wall forming a partof said air passageway in one position of said valve,

- said valve also including a movable conduit opening toward said fanchamber and adapted to register with the eye of said fan chamber in oneposition of said valve, the wall of said converter extending across saidpassageway to close said nozzle'from said chamber in the last mentionedposition.

8. In a suction cleaner including a nozzle, an agitator in said nozzle,a fan chamber havingan eye, a fan in said chamber, a motor shaftsupporting said fan in said chamber and extended through said eye, anair passageway connecting said nozzle to the eye of said fan chamber,and power transmission means extended in said passageway from said shaftto said agitator; a movable converter valve including a wall and aconduit, said wall forming a part of said air passageway in one positionof said converter and a closure between said nozzle and said fan chamberin a second position, said conduit registering with the eye of said fanchamber in the said second position, and means to raise said agitatorout of contact with a supporting surface upon the movement of said valveto said second position.

9. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a nozzle, a fan chamberhaving an opening thereto, a motor driven fan in said fan chamber, anair passageway connecting said nozzle to the opening to said fanchamber, and a converter valve comprising a pivoted side wall section ofsaid passageway adapted to be swung toward and from said opening to saidfan chamber from a position along one side thereof, a fixed plateextending over said openingto the fan chamber from one edge thereof andadapted to have abutting contact with said pivoted wall section tocompletely close said fan chamber from said passageway, and a conduitintegral with said pivoted wall section and adapted to communicate withsaid passageway when the same is closed to said fan chamber.

10. The construction recited by the preceding claim characterized inthat manually releasable means lock said converter in each of itspositions.

11. The construction recited in the second preceding claim characterizedin that said conduit is adapted to receive and seat a dusting tool hoseand said valve is adapted to be pivoted by a force exerted therethrough.

12. In a. suction cleaner, a, nozzle, a fan chamverging side wallsconnecting said nozzle to said eye, one of said side walls being pivotedforwardly of said eye and movable across said passageway to seal saidnozzle from said eye, a conduit carried by said wall and movabletherewith into registry with said eye upon said wall being moved to itsnozzle sealing position, and means to retain said wall in saidpositions. v

13. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a fan chamber having an eye, an airpassageway having top, bottom and side walls connecting said nozzle tosaid eye, one of said side walls being pivoted between said eye and saidnozzle and movable to a second position in which it extends across saidpassageway and cooperates with the remaining walls of said passageway toseal said nozzle from said fan chamber eye, a conduit positionedadjacent saidfan chamber, formed with an opening, and movable with saidwall, the opening of saidconduit being adapted to register with said eyewith said wall moved to its nozzle sealing position.

14. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a casing including anozzle, a fan chamber, and a' passageway connecting said nozzle withsaid fan chamber, supporting wheels carried by said-casingand adapted tobe adjusted verticall to raise and lower said nozzle relative to thefloorsurface, a. converter valve comprising a hinged side wall portionof said passageway adapted to be swung into and out of a position toclose off the fan, chamber from said passageway, a conduit inte- "gralwith said converter valve and adapted to communicate with said Ianchamber upon the closure of saidpassageway therefrom, and coactingmembers carried by said converter valve and said supporting wheels foradjusting the latter in a direction to elevate the nozzle in the 5movement of said converter valve to converting position. i

15. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a wheeled casing includinga nozzle, a fan chamber, and a passageway connecting said nozzle 10 withsaid tan chamber, a support for the casing adapted to be adjustedvertically to raise and lower said nozzle relative to the floor surface,a converter valve consisting of a conduit carried WILLIAMH.

